Timothy Hunt, GLBT Representative
Report to the Prairie Region Council
March 2012
November 18th to March 15th 2012 – Report to PRC
December 6-7:
Attended AFL Executive Meetings in Edmonton on representing both the PSAC V.P. (Elaine Alt) and the Pride & Solidarity Committee. We continued the business of the Province and the 100th Anniversary of the AFL in Alberta. A major float will be in the Gay Edmonton & Calgary Pride Parades and on display at the official June 16th.
January 29:
Even though the launch was just last week, the Royal Mint is already sold out of the first run. But they are taking future orders for the "wedding gift set" of coins. Artist Gary Taxali talks about his collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mint.
"The coin that Taxali is most proud of is the wedding-themed coin, featuring two intertwining rings that represent a gender-neutral marriage. “I live in a country where gender is irrelevant and the coin has to represent that,” says Taxali. “I thought it would be a nice thing to represent that and to show two rings; is one a man and one a woman? Two men? Two women? It doesn’t matter what they are, they represent the union of two people. “The Royal Mint really liked that idea because it represents the spirit of our nation and also, I think that it’s empowering to somebody and hopefully this calling will send a powerful message that we’re all the same and a wedding is a wedding. I think this is probably the first piece of currency in the world, paid by a federal government that is pro-wedding regardless of gender and that makes me really happy….”
January 9 & February 13:
Attended a Pride & Solidarity Committee Meeting via conference call. Working towards the AFL 100th Anniversary Gala events. We also are working on a “That’s Gay” campaign to bring awareness to the use of the word Gay in today’s society.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is coming along with the construction showing more and more of what it will look like when it opens, many other unions are praising the facility and its progress. The PSAC will be the union for the staff when it opens.
February 14 & 15:
Attended AFL Executive Meetings in Edmonton on December 06th & 07th representing both the PSAC V.P. (Elaine Alt) and the Pride & Solidarity Committee. We continued the business of the Province and the 100th Anniversary of the AFL in Alberta. A major float will be in the Gay Edmonton & Calgary Pride Parades and on display at the official AFL Celebration on June 16th.
International Day Against Homophobia unveiled it 10th anniversary campaign, it is again May 17th this year on a work day (Thursday). See your local Regional Office for details.